Description
This rich and festive walnut cake is a beloved Brazilian Christmas dessert, layered with creamy caramel and crowned with fluffy marshmallow frosting. Moist, nutty, and indulgent, it’s the perfect centerpiece for your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts, finely ground
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs, separated
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Caramel Filling:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
For the Marshmallow Frosting:
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, mix flour, ground walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar until pale and creamy. Add melted butter, milk, and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
- Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter.
- Pour batter evenly into pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- For the caramel, heat sweetened condensed milk, butter, and a pinch of salt in a pan. Stir continuously over medium heat until golden and thick. Add cream and stir until smooth. Cool before spreading.
- For the frosting, place egg whites, sugar, and water in a double boiler. Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves. Remove and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Add cream of tartar and vanilla.
- Layer cakes with caramel between, then frost with marshmallow frosting. Decorate with toasted walnuts if desired.
- Chill for 1 hour before slicing for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 85mg